Birthday Boy

Fifteen.

Here's what it looks like first thing in the morning.

I think I did a good job!

Happy Birthday Big Brother!!  By the way... how did fifteen years pass?  I mean seriously, how did that happen?!  

No place like home

We got back last night. I am glad to be home. Nothing like a trip to the mountains but after about a week I start to really miss being in my house, with my creature comforts and contact with the outside world.  Mainly some news and a little internet would do me a world of good.

I won't deny it... a little TV too.

I need to take some shots of knitting done while up there.  I really thought I was documenting the things done but that was all just an idea in my head it seems.  When the rains stop I'll get some shots of the knitting done.

For now, be satisfied with a preemie hat for some sunny little head:

I have no idea the name of this lace pattern, but it's simply knitting every other round and then knit 2, yo, ssk, k2tog, yo, knit 2 on one round and knit 1, yo, ssk, knit 2, k2tog, yo, knit 1 the other round.  4 round repeats, pretty cool effect.  Any repeat of 8 would work.  I'll write it up as soon as I have the chance.  It would make a good newborn hat.  Or a good grown-up hat.  I promise to get right on that.

The Vanna's Choice worked out well, but I found myself making much larger hats than normal for me.  Simply bigger yarn.  I know they'll get worn though.  These will go into my stash for the big fall push to make hats.  It's gotten my energy back for those little hats.  They are simply too easy to whip up not to.

Some needlepoint was finished, lots of play time, some goofy family stuff.  All in all  good trip.

Much more updating when the laundry's done and things are unpacked.  I'll be catching up everywhere tomorrow.  Can't wait to read everyone's blogs.  Today I was rendered fairly useless with a raging headache.  I've been hoping to out-run a migrane and *think I may luck out this time.

well, well.

Who knew being a parent was sometimes really unpleasant?  Not this angel, you say?  

Well, she's a demon in her own right, but Big Brother is the one giving me fits right now.  I won't get into details, but when you know the thing that annoys your mother more than anything else on the planet is when you screw around with plans and pretend you didn't, maybe you should just not do that.  Because she is a bitch and will make things really unpleasant.  Without blinking an eye, buddy.

I bought some Vanna's Choice baby today.  I'm going to be whipping out preemie hats on this trip to the mountains.  For acrylic yarn, it's pretty soft and durable.  It washes up nicely and should knit quickly too.  I need to go dig up the color work books from the closet to bring along.  Ideas are good to have on hand.

I'm trying to get back to up to date with all the blogs I follow, I've had the worst time staying on top of them with all the traveling but I'm reading!  May not be commenting, but I am behind the scenes.  Will probably be behind again since we have no internet where we are going, but I am there in spirit.

Hoping to have some goodies accomplished this trip and great pics of things to show off.  That's the plan anyway and if I have learned anything in the last few years it is that plans go awry.  We're leaving bright and early tomorrow and will be back before the end of the month.  Hopefully Big Brother will redeem himself in that time.  We'll see.  As long as only one of them is running me ragged at a time I should be good.

It's not like I have given up stitching altogether...

I've been doing a bit of needlepoint.

It used to bore me senseless.  I've needed something that takes a bit of concentration lately though, so it's been a great diversion.  This is the third ornament this month.  I finished two last week on vacation and I am trying to get this one wrapped up before we go to have it dropped off for finishing.  I am proud of the quality of my sewing but am aware that certain things should be left to the pros.  Needlepoint is not a cheap hobby, but I am thinking of painting canvases again to offset those costs.  I have a bunch of ideas and need to set them out and clear a little work spot for myself.  

Have I mentioned here I really need a huge studio space?  It's not like the things I do take up a lot of room, it's that I need to have 28 different projects going at once and the idea of having to set one aside to be able to start another just does not sit well with my creative brain.  I like a cluttered work station, at least one that looks cluttered to the rest of the world but simply several works in progress to me.  There are a few solutions in my head but they all take a lot of money.  Why is it that's always the case?

I'll knit more when we leave town again, I'm sure of it.  I'm kind of itching to do it but sort of uninspired right now.  I want to work little projects these days.  I may start making up some knitted ornaments or something else small and fun.  It may be time to cycle into the preemie hats again, too.  Color work is sounding pretty good to me these days.

We'll see what makes its way into the suitcase this time around.  It'll be a surprise.

It must be the heat

The last few days have been a whirlwind!

We're leaving town again this week, I'd rather wait a little longer but we're off on Wednesday to the mountains.  You know, to deal with that tree issue.  I have not knit a stitch since we've been home.  Not one.  Not sure why but it's hot.  Miserably hot.  I don't want to knit hot.

The kids have been bouncing off the walls.  We've been a bit cooped up here.  Did I mention it's hot?

Big Brother's trip to Europe was great- he loved going, I am so glad he had the chance.  I hope he'll get to go again before life ties a weight to his ankle and he has a long time of 'I want to' before he has 'I am' again.  I can't believe he is almost 15.  Time flies.

::yawn::

So it's been a really really lazy and tired kind of day.

We got back last night, not too late, but after a week with friends and the weekend with family for a wedding, I was beat.

I'm officially worn out right now.  I would love to have a ton of energy and hoping tonight I get great sleep so that I do tomorrow, since PeeWee and I are going to tackle out big list of things to do, bright and early!

See this?

Yes, it is a tree on our house.  

I am so annoyed.  Ugh, one of those, you have got to be kidding things.  The house has been on the market for closing in on three years now, something crazy to begin with and since it has been on the market, most of it has been rebuilt for various catastrophies.  Remember last spring's burst pipe?  Same house.  This could easily have been a much worse situation, it seems the damage is really limited to the very furthest edge of the roof so we're good with that.  I'm just darn tired of owning houses that get whacked with disaster.  I'll be glad when this one goes flying off of the market into someone else's hands. (I know, I know, dreaming here...)

There was not much time to do much Mom stuff.  I got minimal knitting done and no pictures of anything.  So no fun updating here.  I hardly had time in the car, which I usually have tons of for Marky Mark wanting to do the driving.  This time he was happy to doze so I got to sit behind the wheel most of the way.  I think that's why I am so tired today.  I can't quite seem to get it together and wake up!